Bunions (not ready for Gransnet yet!)

[Thighdentitycrisis]

Can a GP help with this? the symptom is pain on the joint. if not, who do I consult?

This is new to me, am I officially middle aged ?😁

Unless you are screaming in pain and your toe is 90 degrees across your other toes then your GP more than likely won't do anything. I was told that surgery may or may not work, so if it's bearable, then live with it.

You can ask to see a podiatrist who may or may not create a rocker sole insert for your shoe. I had them made but they didn't work for me.

What HAS worked for me are flat, extra wide fit, square toed, lace up/zip up shoes - no slip ons as not supportive enough......oh and tubes of voltarol if I know I'm going to give my feet extra stress by being on them or day.

Pfft. Had them since my teens (thanks Gran). 🙄

One foot is sore quite often and doesn't look great but as a pp said, not bad enough to do anything about. Sensible shoes really seem to help the most.

'a pp'?! There was one previous poster. Feel a bit rude for not having referenced you by name Jasper. Sorry!

Bunions are genetic! Had them all my life.

Look on the NHS website and your gp website for any info. Mine aren't painful so I've never done anything about them but if they were I'd consider saving for a private surgeon if I had to.

I only wear hotter shoes and Saucony mens trainers and I keep Compeed plasters in business.

I feel your pain OP (literally!)

Extra wide shoes don't work for me because the other one flips up and down.

I work mostly on my feet so keep some stretchy shoes at work (you know the type with a soft top) but they're not waterproof so I hobble home in my uncomfortable shoes.

I have had them since I was a child ( my mum, Gran and now one of my daughters has them). I was offered surgery as a teen but declined then they were causing me pain as an adult and was offered it again but fell pregnant. I would have surgery if I could be off my feet for a few weeks

I would have surgery if I could be off my feet for a few weeks

When I Googled it seemed you'd be off your feet for 3 months?!

Plus there's no guarantee they won't grow back.

Can't help with what to do in the UK as I'm in France but recently my bunion done (it was 40° angle so Into the 'severe' categorisation). Techniques have changed quite a lot and I don't have to be off my feet 3 months, I have special adapted shoes and could walk (rather limp) out of the hospital after the op which was carried out with a local anaesthetic.
I'm a runner and spend the last few years in mens trainers because the toe box was wider, but not just for running, it was impossible to wear leather shoes.
If you are having pain definitely consider surgery. I put it off for years as I was really worried about the long convalescence but I have no regrets.

Thanks for all the replies
My feet are actually narrow and shallow, and I only have pain on one foot. I nearly always wear sensible lace ups.

Im not sure how I would get on with wide fit shoes but I’m willing to try. I can imagine swimming around in them though

do I need local analgesic cream rather than round the clock paracetamol ?

I found that wearing any form of pointy shoe - even flat ones - made my bunion so much worse, as the toe was crushed into the shoe and so pushed sideways into the space of the next toe. So, wider, box toed shoes are so much better as each toe then has its own space and can keep its proper position as far as possible.

It's good that you're wearing shoes geared towards the condition, but don't worry re them being too wide as there are various widths to try from. I was a wide fit to begin with, but have now progressed to extra wide - lucky me - and maybe one day I'll be even luckier and reach the elevated position of extra, extra wide. Who knows!
Taking paracetamol affects the whole body system and can possibly make you drowsy. A topical treatment such as voltarol should only affect the area it's applied to, but if you have asthma then be cautious. Both types of treatments are effective and can last several hours and so you can choose from either.